Frozen Steak in the Air Fryer (Cooked Perfectly!)
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If you need a fast weeknight dinner idea that requires no thawing, then try this tender, juicy frozen steak in the air fryer! Just pull the steak straight from the freezer and turn it into a delicious meal in less than 20 minutes!
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Flavorful: Air fryer frozen steak turns out tender, juicy, and with the perfect sear every time. Meaning the flavor is scrumptious!
- Fast: Not only is there no thawing required, but there is also no preheating required for this frozen steak air fryer recipe.
- Easy cleanup: Unlike using a skillet, cooking frozen steak in the air fryer causes no splatter to clean up or pan to scrub. Just line your air fryer with foil and throw it away when finished.
Need inspiration for some side dish recipes? Try my Easy Diced Air Fryer Potatoes, Air fryer Zucchini Fries, Frozen Jacket Potato in Air Fryer: Make Baked Potatoes in 25 Minutes!
Best cut of steak to use
My favorite cut of steak to use in the air fryer is ribeye. If you don’t know, a ribeye is marbled with thin steaks of fat (a.k.a. flavor) that when cooked, render down, keeping the meat basted. This in turn allows for a perfectly tender and juicy frozen ribeye in the air fryer.
However, if ribeye isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other cuts of beef that make the cut. Sirloin, flank steak, flat iron steak, and even filet mignon can all be cooked in the air fryer.
How to season a frozen steak
When you cook frozen steak in the air fryer, seasoning can be a problem. Because the meat is frozen, much of the seasoning slides off and won’t penetrate the meat. In this case it is a good idea to add a bit of oil or cooking spray to your frozen steak so the seasoning will stick better.
How to get desired doneness
The best way to know how long to cook frozen steak in the air fryer is to know how you like your steak. I like to cook frozen steak in the air fryer medium rare, but you can use an instant read meat thermometer to take the temperature of the steak throughout the cooking process and cook the steak how you like it.
*All air fryers cook a little bit differently, so the times listed are approximate.
These estimates are for a 1 inch thick Ribeye cooked at 400℉/200℃:
- Rare: 49-57℃ (120-130℉) approximately 10 minutes.
- Medium Rare: 54-57℃ (130-135℉) approximately 12-14 minutes.
- Medium: 57-63℃ (135-145℉) approximately 16 minutes.
- Medium Well: 63-68℃ (145-155℉) approximately 20 minutes
- Well Done: 68-74℃ (155-165℉) approximately 22 minutes.
Ingredients
The main ingredients that make this air fryer frozen steak recipe fantastic are the following:
Frozen steak
The frozen steak used in this recipe is a nicely marbled frozen ribeye. However, you can use any steak that is currently frozen in your freezer.
Rapeseed Oil
A little bit of oil helps the steak get a nice sear, keep from sticking to the air fryer, and also helps it retain some moisture.
Seasoning
Salt and pepper are my gold standard when cooking steak, however don’t hesitate to use the seasonings you prefer.
Variations/ Adaptations
- Use a different cut of meat: As mentioned above, ribeye is not the only cut of meat you can air fry from frozen. Use whichever cut you like best.
- Different seasonings: Anything from a tex-mex to italian will work on steak. So try experimenting with some different seasoning combinations.
How to make frozen steak in the air fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 205°C/400°F for 5 minutes.
- Remove the steak from the freezer. Add the oil and sprinkle with salt (Image 1).
- Place the frozen raw steak in the air fryer basket (Image 2).
3. Cook the frozen steak in the air fryer at 205°C/400°F for 10 minutes (Image 3).
4. Remove the steak from the air fryer after cooking and place it in a large sheet of aluminum foil (Image 4).
5. Next, wrap the steak in the foil and allow it to rest 5 minutes (Image 5).
6. Once the steak has rested, place it on a cutting board and slice into even slices for serving (Image 6).
Want to take your air fryer frozen steak up a notch? Try one of these delicious recipes with it; Steak Dipping Sauce (Cowboy Butter!), The BEST Compound Butter For Steak (Herb Butter), Easy Boursin Cheese Baked Pasta
Tips for the best result
- Don’t flip the meat: Regardless of what doneness you want, I find that flipping the meat in this case does not allow adequate time for the steak to sear. So I recommend not flipping the steak.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket: This is a tough one if you are cooking more than one steak in a small air fryer. If you have a large steak or a small air fryer, you may need to cook the frozen steak in batches so they don’t get overcrowded and cook unevenly.
- Let the steak rest: It is always important to let your steak rest 5-10 minutes before cutting into it so the juices redistribute throughout the meat.
- When in doubt, always undercook, never overcook: A steak can always be cooked more if it is undercooked, but you can never uncook something that is overcooked.
- Preheat: When you cook frozen steak in the air fryer, you should preheat the air fryer. This way you get a good sear on the steak when it cooks.
Serving Suggestions
When serving this air fryer steak from frozen, I like to pair it with my favorite pasta, slice it and place it on a salad, or eat it with a nice vegetable like broccoli. And you can’t have steak without some sort of potato in my opinion. That is why my favorite way to serve up this air fryer steak is with a delicious jacket potato or mashed potatoes.
Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions
Refrigerator: Store leftover steak in an airtight container for no longer than 5 days.
Freezer: In the freezer, steak will keep for up to 3 months in an airtight container or bag.
Reheat: I have found the best way to reheat frozen air fryer steak is in the air fryer. Just pop it in and reheat on 350 for 5 minutes or until hot all the way through.
FAQ’s
Yes, you can absolutely cook a frozen steak in an air fryer.
For this particular recipe, I do not flip the steak. Leaving it alone will give it enough time to get a good sear on the outside.
Normally a dry steak means it was either cooked too long or it was not given proper time to rest before cutting into it.
It is absolutely safe to cook frozen meat in the air fryer without thawing it. In fact, it helps keep the steak from overcooking. However, you should always use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the steak gets above 49/120.
Absolutely! Frozen raw steak is the exact steak I use in this recipe and it turns out delicious.
Yes, I recommend preheating the air fryer before cooking your frozen steak to get a good sear.
Consider making these other delightful air fryer dishes during the week; Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes, Perfectly Poached Eggs in The Air Fryer, Perfectly Poached Eggs in The Air Fryer.
If you tried this Frozen Steak in the Air Fryer, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys 💛 Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x
Frozen Steak in the Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 frozen steak (approx 230g) (£3.84)
Cupboard Essentials
- 1 tbsp rapeseed oil
Method
- Preheat the airfryer basket at 205°C/ 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Coat the frozen steak in oil and season with salt and pepper. Cook at 205°C/ 400°F for 10 minutes. I prefer to not rotate the steak to maximise browning on one side, without overcooking it.
- Cover in foil and all the steak to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Avoid Flipping: Do not flip the steak during cooking to ensure proper searing.
- Don’t Overcrowd: avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking.
- Rest the Steak for 5-10 minutes.
- Undercook When Uncertain: better to undercook a steak than to overcook it, as you can always cook it further.
- Preheat the Air Fryer for optimal searing.
These estimates are for a 1 inch thick Ribeye cooked at 400℉/200℃:
- Rare: 49-57℃ (120-130℉) approximately 10 minutes.
- Medium Rare: 54-57℃ (130-135℉) approximately 12-14 minutes.
- Medium: 57-63℃ (135-145℉) approximately 16 minutes.
- Medium Well: 63-68℃ (145-155℉) approximately 20 minutes
- Well Done: 68-74℃ (155-165℉) approximately 22 minutes.
Nutrition
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